St AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH - CITY OF BIRMINGHAM BRASS BAND - 10th Dec 2011

The City of Birmingham Brass Band performed at St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston on the evening of the 10th of December. The performance was in aid of the church lighting fund.
An appreciative audience enjoyed the music, mainly Christmas themed, as well as the wit of the conductor and director Warren Belshaw. There was an opportunity for the audience to sing along to carols and to participate actively during the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas".
During the interval, hot drinks, wines and cakes were available and a raffle was held to boost the fund.
This was a very enjoyable and intimate evening, with much fun and banter between Warren and the audience.
The band's website is at http://freespace.virgin.net/oliver.monk/home.htm
For more information on the church visit http://www.staugustines-edgbaston.org/

St GEORGE'S DAY - BIRMINGHAM - 23rd Apr 2011

This year we actually celebrated St George's Day on St George's Day (the 23rd). My first stop was to St Philips Cathedral where several events were scheduled to take place, but nothing was there. Outside the flag of St George flew, or rather flagged, there was no wind - but plenty of sunshine for the whole day.

 Inside the cathedral was a montage explaining the origins of St George. Apart from several other countries, St George is the patron saint of scouting, soldiers, cavalry, chivalry, farmers, riders, saddlers, people living with leprosy, plague and skin disease!

Over to Victoria Square, and that's where it's all happening. Here, the Sovereign Brass Band entertain the crowds with some stirring patriotic music.

Although quiet at this time of the morning, the Purity Ale tent was later extremely busy quenching the thirsts of discerning drinkers in the unseasonally hot weather. More information about Purity Ales can be found HERE.

Contemporary folk band Suntrap entertained us and kept our feet tapping with many versatile arrangements of folk songs and music. Info, videos and pics HERE.

Trips on the open-top "Big Brum Buz" proved extremely popular today. I went on the inauguration trip last year which was even better (it was free!).

 BBC Radio WM's presenters Jenny Wilkes and Bev Bevan compere the events of the day.

 Back to more traditional entertainment, this time provided by Heage Windmillers Morris.

 The Heage Windmillers again: A display of the traditional knot after a rapper sword dance.

 Drummer Bev Bevan was an original member of The Move, and later he played with the ELO and Black Sabbath. At a ceremony a few days later, his star will be placed in the Broad Street Walk of Stars.

 The Fab Beatles. An incredible tribute band which kept us singing along in a wave of pure nostalgia.

 Crowds enjoying the show and the sunshine.

 A troupe of Mummers present a play with St George and the Dragon, as well as other fearsome adversaries.

 A photo-call by the Mummers.

 This is Absolute Bowie, a David Bowie tribute band. Even more pure nostalgia!!!!

Absolute Bowie egging the audience on to join in...... like we needed any encouragement!

ASTON JUXTA CHURCH Revisited 12th July 2009

This is an updated section combining images of my first visit to the church (31st March 2009) with a subsequent visit on the church open day on the 12th July.

Welcome to Aston Parish Church; Ss Peter and Paul Church, Aston; Aston Juxta Birmingham Church (Aston near Birmingham). A splendid array of names and a history to match.

A church on this site was recorded in the Doomsday Book, but another building and much restoration and additions have taken place since. Others have recorded the history of the church and a detailed account can be viewed at BRITISH HISTORY ONLINE item 11.

There are monuments centuries old in the church, some with Latin inscriptions, and some so faded as to be illegible. Many monuments are hidden or inaccessible at this time, but more information and photographs may be added if I get the time to do so.

I was told by one of the ministers that the church is usually open when Aston Villa FC have a home match, although it was not made clear whether this was to pray for divine intervention before the match or possibly to seek solace afterwards.

The church website is at http://www.astonnechellscofe.org.uk/history_aston/

Notes on coloured text:-

I have traditionally used blue text for transcriptions I have made myself but of which I am uncertain. The new red text, for this church only, applies to the history, transcriptions and translations as made by William Eliot MA, vicar of the church 1875-1891. His historical observations are sometimes at odds with other sources.

The information, transcriptions and translations cannot be guaranteed to be correct.

(Photo 31Mar2009)

This photograph shows the tower and spire at the west end of the church.

(31Mar2009)

A view from the south-east. The clock on the tower was apparently Britain's first mechanical clock.

(31Mar2009)

This "tour" starts at the floor of the tower, dated 1480. To the left of the west door is a brass of Thomas Holte, the grandfather of the Thomas Holte who built Aston Hall. It depicts him and his wife Margaret.

There are several Holte memorials in the church and the name also lives on as the "Holte End" at Villa Park football ground.

This particular memorial was formerly on the floor besides the monument to William Holte and wife Joan(na) situated in the north aisle (see later).

The inscription on the brass reads:

Thomas holte here lieth in grave

Thu for thyn paffion on him

Thou have compaffion and his foolle do fave

Around the edge:

Of yr charitie pray for the foolle of Thomas holte Efquire, late Juftice of North Wales & lord of this town of Aston And Margaret his Wife which Thomas ????* the 23rd daye of March, Anno Dmi 1545, whose foullf God pardon.

*deceased ?

(31Mar2009)

On the south wall of the tower is this stone.

(I'm still working on it... there is this rubbing somewhere....)

(12Jul2009)

In the centre of the tower floor is a Victorian font, presented in 1883.

(12Jul2009)

On the north wall of the tower is a memorial to those who perished in World War 1.

(Click to enlarge)

(31Mar2009)

Another view of the memorial, showing names on the right hand side a bit clearer. Further entries have been added on the final column.

(12Jul2009)

To the left of the main panel is an additional panel.

(31Mar2009)

Inset and to the right of the war memorials is a monument dedicated to Josiah Foster MA, vicar from 1716 to 1727.

Near To This Place

Lyeth The Body of The Reverend IOSIAH FOSTER.A.M.

Late VICAR of This Parifh.

He was a Diligent Paftor of His Flock.

A Faithfull Minifter of The CHURCH of ENGLAND,

And an Exact Obferver of HER Ordinances.

He was a Man

Of Great Integrity, Strict Temperance,

And Primitive Piety.

He was Hofpitable Without Extravagance,

Charitable Without Vanity,

Humble Without Mean Compliances,

And Good Without Affectation.

His Admonitions were Grave and Powerfull:

The Repentant Found Comfort from Them

And The Obftinate Sinner Confufion of Face.

In a Word

He Liv'd The Life Of The Righteous,

And His Laft End Was Like His

He Married SUSANNA IANNES Daughter of the ~

Reverend Mt THOMAS IANNES late VICAR of SEDGELEY

in STAFFORDSHIRE Whom He Left a Widow.

She

In Teftimony of His Love and Affection to Her

Caus`d This Monument to be Erected

He Died October The 28th 1727. In The Sixtieth Year of His Age

Also of interest in this photograph is the sculpted head of William Eliot, vicar from 1875-1891, on the arch corner to the right of the monument.

(12Jul2009)

A view of the nave.

(12Jul2009)

The arches of the northern aisle.

(12Jul2009)

The arches of the southern aisle.

(12Jul2009)

The meeting room is a partitioned-off section of the northern aisle and nave. It includes a canteen and informal sitting area. Being part of the actual church there are monuments in there, behind the canteen counter on the west wall and along the northern wall.

Above is a marble memorial to the Brooke family to the left of the west wall window:

Sacred

To the memory of

THO. BROOKE, Gent

Who died February 24, 1780,

Aged 29 Years.

Also of JOHN BROOKE The

Coroner of the County of Warwick

who died June the 6th 1802.

Aged 45 Years.

Likewife of Sophia Jane Allica Kelly

Daughter of Lieut Kelly 23rd Lt Dragoons

who died July 3rd 1810: Aged 2 Years

and 9 Months.

(12Jul2009)

Below the monument to the Brooke family is this one to Henrietta Small:

IN MEMORY OF

HENRIETTA,

THE BELOVED WIFE OF THOMAS SMALL. ESQ.

OF WESTBOURNE ROAD, EDGBASTON.

WHO DIED JANUARY XIII. MDCCCXLV,

AGED XLVIII YEARS.

THE ENDURING MARBLE BEARS HER NAME;

HER WORTH ALL WEALTH ABOVE,

IS WRITTEN ON SURVIVING HEARTS

IN CHARACTERS OF LOVE.

"I SAY UNTO ALL WATCH." MARK XIII. V. XXXVII.

(12Jul2009)

In front of the west window is a bust of John Rogers MA, which is dated as 1883.

On the right side of the window is the following:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

GEORGE YATES

OF BORDESLEY

IN THIS PARISH,

DIED JUNE XII MDCCCXXVIII,

AGED XLVI YEARS.

BELOVED AND REGRETTED.

(12Jul2009)

Working along the north wall we first come to the Goddington memorial:

As a grateful tribute

of filial piety

this Monumant is erected to the Memory

of JAMES GODDINGTON, Esquire,

and of ANN his wife,

third Daughter of Joseph Ashton, Esqr.

the latter of whom

died on the 16th March, 1793,

Aged twenty eight Years;

the former

on the 7th September, 1821,

Aged 72 Years.

(12Jul2009)